Envelope-opener



(No Model.)

N. R. STREETER.

ENVELOPE OPENER No. 423,351. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON R. STREETER, OF GROTON, NEW YORK.

, ENVELOPE-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,351, dated March 11, 1890.

Application filed October 28, 1889. Serial No. 328,410. (No model.) i

My invention relates to an improvement in envelope-openers; and it consists in an opener which is made from a single strip or sheet of metal, which is pointed and sharpened along both edges at one end, and which has the other end turned up and back upon itself and fastenedin this position, so as to form ahandle, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to so construct an envelope-opener that it rests upon the table its entire length, so that its point can be inserted into the envelope and then the opener pushed along the table without having anything interfere-with or obstruct its movement.

The accompanying drawing represents a perspective of an envelope-opener which em- 'bodies my invention.

In making these openings I take a strip of sheet metal A, of suitable width, length, and thickness, and stamp it of the proper length, and cut away both of the edges from the point B to the end of the blade. These edges which have been cut away converge toward a point, and are sharpened by being stamped to an edge, as shown. Any desired shape may be given to the point, which should be sufficiently sharp to be rapidly inserted into an envelope, and the edges should be sharpened enough to rapidly out the paper. The other end of the strip is turned upward and backward upon itself, as shown, so as to form a handle C. From the center of the strip is stamped up a small point or projection J, which is made to pass through a corresponding opening I at the front end of the handle, and then this point or projection is turned downward, so as to lock the end of the handle rigidly and permanently in position. This handle forms a means not only for catching hold of the opener and pushing it along, but also for hanging the opener up when not needed. This opener rests fiat upon the table from one end to the other, and when moved forward for the purpose of cutting open the envelope or cutting the paper it presents no obstruction of any kind to interfere with its movement.

Upon the top of the handle may be stamped a name or an advertisement of any kind, so that it serves both as an envelope-opener and an advertising novelty at the same time.

, By pressing down upon the top of the handle both ends of the opener are made to press closely against the table, and the point is thus made to enter the seam of the envelope without the slightest danger of cutting the contents of the envelope.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- I An envelope-opener having the pointed and sharpened edges formed upon one end and havingthe other end turned upward and backward, so as to form a handle, and a locking point or projection being struck up from the center of the strip and made to pass through an opening in the end of the handle for the purpose of locking its end in position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON R. STREETER.

Witnesses:

F. A. LEHMANN, PHILIP MAURO. 

